Resolution No. 4609 - Laserfiche WebLink

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o Bus Turnouts 5) A turnout is a specialized bus stop where a transit vehicle can load or unload passengers in an area separated from the traffic lanes. Turnouts are appropriate in certain conditions. A properly marked turnout also serves as a reminder of the availability of transit service. 6) It is important that turnouts be properly designed with sufficient length to allow for easy and safe flow by the bus in and out of traffic. If there is a high traffic volume on the road, efficient bus operation may require that the timing of nearby traffic signals be designed to ensure that there will be sufficient gaps in the traffic to allow the bus to pull back into the traffic flow. 7) Safety and traffic flow are important consider- ations in deciding whether to install a turnout. Turnouts may be helpful on roads that function with higher speeds (over 40 miles per hour) because there is less risk of rear-end collision while the bus is stopped to load or unload passengers. A stopped bus also will not impede traffic flow, which could be a significant advan- tage for traffic operation on a high speed road, particularly if the stop time is long due to high passenger activity or boardings by persons in wheelchairs. 8) Installing turnouts on roads that function with speeds of 40 miles per hour or less should be approached with caution. If there is a high volume of traffic (exceeding 250 vehicles per hour) for all or part of the day, with few gaps in the traffic, it may take an extended amount of time for the bus to safely enter the travel lane after a stop, resulting in longer travel time for transit riders and higher operational costs. This could be mitigated by the use of traffic control signals, or queue jumpers at a nearby intersection. Passenger Amenities 9) Basic passenger amenities at bus stops, where they are required as part of the development review process, may include: a) Bus stop sign and pole b) Bench c) Shelter d) Information display unit e) Trash ca~ f) Concrete boarding pad g) Lighting h) Bicycle rack 10) Transit stations are located at major rider activity points and typically include sheltered areas, benches, passenger information displays, lighting, telephones, drinking fountains, clocks., and landscaping. Turning Radius 11) At some intersections, LTD buses have difficulty, or are unable to turn due to tight corner curb returns. In some instances, buses must encroach on the adjacent lane, or use the bicycle lane or parking lane in order to complete the turn. Properly designed corner curb radius will minimize conflicts among buses, cars, bicycles and pedestrians at intersections. Stan- dards for turning radius can vary depending on the effective radius such as whether a bicycle lane or parking lane is available or if traffic volumes are so low as to allow transit vehicles to make full use of either or both of the departure or receiving lanes. Curb radius should be designed to accommodate bus movements where appropriate. The City shall coordinate with LTD on designing intersections and streets to ensure that bus movements can be accommo- dated. (See Intersection section of th is chapter). 9